Teaching and Leadership Center

Education professionals honored with the title of Teacher of the Year, chosen by their colleagues, possess the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that propel student achievement forward. The Teaching and Leadership Center (TLC) at Florida Atlantic University congratulates each nominee for the 2008 Teacher of the Year. The TLC is especially pleased to report seven of this year’s nominees began their pathway to teaching through one of TLC’s alternative preparation and certification programs.

One of the Center’s program recipients and 2008 Teacher of the Year nominee is Kimarya Carter-Martin. As a language arts and reading teacher at William Dandy Middle School, Ms. Carter-Martin shares her experiences that led her to discover her true calling.

“My experience with the Teaching and Leadership Center was great. My major was communications. I did not plan on teaching, but I guess it was my calling. I was interested in the education profession but I did not know where to start. I saw information about the TLC programs for people who wanted to change careers in a school board publication. I became one of the chosen ones to participate. I participated in two programs delivered by TLC. The first program was an alternative preparation program, which helped me obtain my first teaching position. The other program was a certification and master’s degree combination to earn my five-year professional certification and an advanced degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Additionally, TLC helped the entire cohort with maneuvering the certification process and helped us prepare for the various certification examinations and the Graduate Record Examination. I was mentored by National Board Certified teachers and learned a great deal that I have been able to apply successfully into my own classroom. The entire experience with the TLC was great. Once I finished the programs, I was certified in English and earned a Master’s degree that I did not pay for. That was fabulous!

I am grateful for all of the things that the TLC has done for me. All the individual attention that the TLC devoted to helping me become successful as a teacher is a great part of why I truly believe that I was chosen as Teacher of the Year for my school this year. The TLC staff made sure that I was ready to enter the classroom. I will forever be grateful.”

The TLC is pleased with the accomplishments of Ms. Carter-Martin and acknowledges her dedication to teaching and learning. Congratulations to each of the TLC graduates: Dian Holland, Josianne Valme-Gourdet, Mary DelBorrello, Melissa Laster, Marc Larose and Jacqueline Berlin! To learn more about the Teaching and Leadership Center’s TUITION FREE College Credit Alternative Certification Programs visit our website at http://www.coe.fau.edu/tlc

Source: Cynthia Fowler, FAU, Teaching and Learning Center